North Carolina Tar Heels: 1968 vs 2009, Bracket Challenge
The North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket Challenge reaches its second semifinal with the 1968 Heels facing the 2009 Heels.
This is the day that the North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket Challenge will come to an end. There are two games left, 1968 vs 2009 and the winner of that game versus 1993 in the final to decide the winner of the bracket overall. So we need determine if we are going to have an all Dean Smith final or if Roy Williams will have an entry of his own.
This also means that we are stuck without the simulator for this game. It will be up to me to figure out which team between these two would defeat the other by whatever means necessary. My hope is that the offensive scoring numbers of each team will be enough, but we might have to go and do the points and rebounds rating index to determine the answer like we had to do with 1982 vs 1968.
I have been surprised by the success of the 1968 team this deep into the tournament. Part of that was just not understanding the makeup of the team. Part of it was having no experience with the late sixties Heels squads outside of the arrival of Charlie Scott in myth and legend.
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I had the opportunity to meet Dean Smith once. I was in line at a book signing for the Carolina Way book in the Students Stores sometime in the early 2000s. Unfortunately the line was long, and I had to get to class. I left my book copy (intended for my father) with a friend. The book got signed (and got to Dad) but I missed the opportunity to meet Smith. It is a minor regret especially since Smith has died since.
The 2009 team holds a particular place in my heart. It arrived at a time when I was just starting to feel like I had figured out part of my life and it seemed like validation for the team to win at that time just as it did for the 2005 team to win when I graduated. For a brief time, everything made sense just as the 2009 time seemed like a well-oiled machine that just went out and beat people. I miss that aspect of those days.
Once more into the breach, then, friends. The best team of the sixties versus the best team of the 2000s.